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Lt. Gov. Murray spends final full work day in Westfield

WESTFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said he had "mixed emotions" Friday as he attended his final cabinet meeting and prepared to depart the office he has held for nearly 6 1/2 years.

Murray announced last week that he was resigning to accept a job as president and chief executive of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. His final official day as lieutenant governor is Sunday.

Before he steps down, however, Murray will serve one more brief stint as the state's acting governor while Gov. Deval Patrick makes a visit to Chicago on Friday and Saturday. His last scheduled public event was a tour of the Kosinski Farm in Westfield with Patrick on Friday.

"I have mixed emotions, but I'm excited about this unique opportunity for my family," Murray said, the Republican newspaper of Springfield reported.

The tour was used by the administration as a platform to announce $700,000 in grants for 11 agricultural projects. The grants, including one for a winery at Kosinski Farm, were made through a program that aids commercial farming on land that has been protected from development.

The lieutenant governor later attended a private meeting of Patrick's cabinet, also in Westfield.

After Sunday, Secretary of State William Galvin will be second in line to the governor's office and serve as acting chief executive when Patrick is out of the state. There is no provision in the state constitution to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office before the next state election.